In 2022, during my pursuit of a post-grad diploma in Digital Communication Management at Fanshawe College in London, I had the opportunity to learn from a highly creative professor in my design class. She referred to us as designers and was very candid with her critiques of our designs. However, her criticism was constructive and based on rubrics and parameters that we could use to improve our work.
Similarly, when creating an advertisement, it’s important to consider certain guidelines and best practices to avoid receiving harsh criticism. Failure to do so may result in poor feedback, similar to what my lazy classmates experienced in my professor’s class. By following these established guidelines and strategies, you can increase the likelihood of creating successful and impactful advertisements.
Here are the 7 tips for creating creative ads that will capture the attention of your target audience.
1 Put your audience in your shoes.
First of all, be sure about who your target audience is and what really matters to them. Understand your audience, their interests, values, and preferences. By putting yourself in your audience’s shoes, you can tailor your ad to better resonate with them.
2 Insist on compelling headlines
Always remember that people tend to scroll posts and headline is the first thing people will notice in your ads. So ensure that you have captured the audience’s attention by creating a compelling headline. Also, it should align with your message. Additionally, the copy should be clear, concise, creative, and compelling.
3 Use good imagery/visuals
Stick to high-quality visuals and images that are eye-catching and easily understandable to your audience. Never make confusion with your message and visuals as it is considered the key factor of any ads.
4 Bring the audience into the Story
People tend to remember stories more than facts. Include simple yet interesting stories in your ads so they can create be relatable to your audience. Make sure your story is authentic and resonates with your audience
5 Action speaks louder than words
Insert a compelling call to action( CTA) in your designs which clearly defines what to do next to your audience. Inspire them to take the action by creating urgency by using phrases such as Today only, limited time offer…etc can be included.
6 Test before publishing
It is vital to test your ads before publishing them. Use A/B testing to compare your ads with their different versions and apply the changes required. Also, Consider your data and resources to improve your ads
7. Don’t be afraid to try out new
Have fun with your tools and be different. Try out new designs and concepts, unique and bold ones tend to stand out from the crowd and never fail to capture the audience’s attention.
In conclusion, An effective and creative ad requires a good combination of creativity, strategy, and attention to detail. Try out these steps to make your ads stand out among your target audience. Also, remember to test your ads and keep them unique.
